State prison officers should not have to wear uniforms made by the inmates they guard.

State Rep. Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla, along with 10 other Republicans and 19 Democrats, is sponsoring a bill to allow private companies to sell uniforms to correctional officers.

Washington law currently requires the Department of Corrections to buy uniforms from Correctional Industries, a program which employs 1,600 offender-workers at 16 state prison facilities.

But Walsh said at least three officers have personally complained to her about the quality of the buttons, seams and material of the uniforms.

Several officers expect to testify at the bill's hearing this week in Olympia.

But state corrections officials said they don't see a problem.